Window-shade-mounting means



Aug. 27, 1929. A. H. MECKSTROTH I 1,726,273

WINDOW SHADE MOUNTING MEANS Filed Oct. 25, 1927 gwumkoz Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR E. MECKSTBOTI-I, OF CHEVIOT, OHIO.

WINDOW-SHADE-MOUNTING MEANS.

Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 228,643.

This invention relates to window shade mounting brackets and especially to that type of bracket adapted for receiving two window shades which have their roller mountings intermediate the top and bottom of the window frame.

An object of the invention is to provide a bracket of the class referred to wherein the overlapping of the roller ends of a pair of shades is avoided and wherein the resulting light space between the shades is effectively closed by a simple, inexpensive and readily mounted shield.

Another object is to provide a. bracket for the purposes stated which serves to effectively mount a shield on the window frame, in addition to its function of supporting the shades.

Another object is to provide a bracket of the class referred to which is interchangeable so that similar brackets may be mounted on opposite sides of a window frame for supporting a pair of shades.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a. bracket of the invention in an operative position upon a window frame supporting a pair of window shades and a shield, the latter being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of 1. ig. 3 Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective View showing a shield for use with the bracket structure shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The bracket indicated generally as 7 is adapted to be used in pairs and comprises an integral member consisting of an elongated base 8 having a suitable flat bottom face 9 for abutment upon window frame 10 and provided with a recessed or shouldered portion 11 in order to provide a socket 12 when operatively mounted upon a window frame. It will be noted that the socket 12 has an opening only on the side toward the window and that a pair of the brackets may receive in the sockets 12 theends 13 of a shield 14 which has its opposite longitudinal edges15 turned or rolled so as to be resiliently clamped between the forward face of the window frame 10 and the top inner wall 16 of the recess 12. The opposite ends 13 abut is a view taken on line 3-3 of the shoulders 11 in the socket so as to preclude longitudinal movement of the shield 14 while the lateral edges 17 are in substantial abutment with the end walls 18 of the recess. From the foregoing it will be noted that the shield 14 may be constructed of lightweight sheet metal to which ample rigidity is imparted by rolling the edges 15 and that the rolled edges 15 provide a desirable thickness and resilency which, when the shield and brackets are operatively mounted, preclude vibration or rattling of the shade in its sockets.

The brackets 7 are of the type known as double brackets wherein outwardly extending flanges ,19 and 20 are provided integral with the base 8 and are disposed with their centers Well between the opposite end. walls 18 of the recess 12. The flange 19 has a perforation 21 for rotatably receiving the pin 22 of the shade roller while the companion flange 20 has a novel form of slot 28 for receiving the usual spring actuated and ratchet controlled key 24 of a spring shade roller. The key slot 23 extends substantially in a horizontal position when the bracket is mounted on a window frame and is of such width as to slidably receive the thickness of the key 24. At its inner end the slot 28 is widened to a dimension slightly less than the length of the key 24. The widened and restricted portions of the slot 23 have substantially right-angled shoulders 25 disposed on opposite sides of their place of communication so that when the key 24 is under spring tension in the slot it will assume a position (as shown in Fig. 2) diagonally of the enlarged portion of the slot with the corners thereof abutting the bottom of the slot and the lowermost shoulder 25. Inasmuch as the key 24 of the shade roller is always under spring tension tending to rotate it, there is no danger of displacing it regardless of the manner in which the shade may be manipulated. The uniformity of contour both top and bottom of the slot 23 permits of the use of the bracket with the flange 20 disposed either above or below. The use of the shield 14 renders unnecessary the usual overlapped mounting of the shades and therefore eliminates the wear and tear on fabric on the shade incident to that manner of mounting.

The brackets 7 are preferably made of light Weight cast metal such as aluminum so that the perforation 21 may be drilled, thereby providing a smooth running noiseless bearing for the shade roller.

Suitable counter-sunk perforations 26 are provided in opposite ends of the bracket for receiving mounting screws 27 which serve at once to mount the bracket and to securely position the shsield 14-. If desired a suitable perforation 28 may be provided for receiving a suitable screw or the like which may pass through and additionally secure the shield 14:. It should be noted however that with the shield formed as shown herein such fastening means is not essential. The struct-ure of the present invention not only provides a neat appearing and sturdy mounting for a pair of window shades but is attended by several advantages which facilitate and reduce to a minimum the effort and labor of hanging shades. In practice the shields 14 are supplied in pro-determined lengths for use with shades of given sizes so that after one bracket is secured in position upon a window frame 10 the shield 14 may be inserted in the socket 12 and thereafter serves as an accurate guide for the positioning of the companion bracket. The screws 27 serve to mount both the bracket and shade. The shade rollers are then hung with a minimum of efitort by first inserting the pin 22 in bore 21 and then sliding the key horizontally into the slot 23. Following this method it will be apparent that it is practically impossible to improperly space the brackets and that the hanging of the shade rollers thereon is free of the tedious and annoying manipulations which are experienced in the use of shade roller brackets having angularly disposed communicating key slots. The exposed faces 29 of the brackets present a smooth finished appearance and are free from irregularities upon which dust may settle.

W hat is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a base having a recess therein opening on the bottom face and one side face thereof and a pair of shade roller supporting flanges extending from the top of said base intermediate the longitudinal ends of the recess.

2. In combination a vertical mounting surface, a shade roller mounting bracket mounted on said surface and having a recess opening toward the rear and one side only of the bracket and a shield member having longitudinal rolled edges, the ends of said edges being resiliently retained against vibration between the walls of the recess and the vertical mounting surfaces.

In combination a shade roller mounting bracket having an elongated recess opening on one of the lateral sides thereof and an eloi'iguted sheet metal shield having rolled longitudinal edges an end of said shield including the rolls on the edges seating in the recess in the bracket.

4. in combination a shade roller mounting bracket having an elongated recess opening on one of the lateral sides thereof and a metal shield having means at the end thereof seating in the recess in the bracket and resiliently retained in said recess.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of October,

1927. ARTHUR H. MEOKSTROTH. 

